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Auth0 vs Supabase
Side-by-side comparison of Auth0 and Supabase.
Quick summary
Auth0 — Identity platform for developers. Auth0 is an enterprise-grade identity platform offering authentication, authorization, and SSO.
Supabase — The open source Firebase alternative. Supabase is an open-source backend-as-a-service built on PostgreSQL. It provides authentication, realtime subscriptions, storage, edge functions, and a hosted database.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Auth0 | Supabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $35/mo | $25/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| MFA | Yes | — |
| SAML/SSO | Yes | — |
| Free Tier | 7.5k MAU | 500MB DB + 1GB storage |
| Self-hosted | No | Yes |
| Pre-built UI | Yes | — |
| Social Login | Yes | — |
| Organizations | Yes | — |
| Auth | — | Yes |
| Storage | — | Yes |
| Database | — | PostgreSQL |
| Realtime | — | Yes |
| Edge Functions | — | Yes |
| Row Level Security | — | Yes |
Auth0
Identity platform for developers
Pros
- Enterprise-ready
- Deep customization
- Acquired by Okta
Cons
- Expensive at scale
- Complex dashboard
- Free tier reduced over time
Supabase
The open source Firebase alternative
Pros
- Open source and self-hostable
- Standard PostgreSQL — no vendor lock-in
- Generous free tier
- Great DX with auto-generated APIs
Cons
- Cold starts on free tier
- Edge function ecosystem still maturing
Which should you choose?
Choose Auth0 if a free tier is important for your stage. Choose Supabase if you value open source and want the option to self-host, and a free tier is important for your stage.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Auth0 or Supabase?
There is no universal “better.” For most teams, Supabase is the safer default because Supabase is open source, which means you can self-host and avoid vendor lock-in. Auth0 is proprietary. For edge cases, the comparison table above highlights where each tool wins.
Is Auth0 cheaper than Supabase?
Auth0 starts at $35/mo, while Supabase starts at $25/mo. Exact costs depend on usage — check both vendors' calculators before committing.
Can I migrate from Auth0 to Supabase?
Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Auth0-specific features (APIs, SDK conventions, data schemas) are baked into your app. Most authentication migrations take days to weeks. Both vendors typically publish migration guides — check their docs.
Is Auth0 or Supabase open source?
Supabase is open source; Auth0 is a proprietary managed service.
Does Auth0 or Supabase have a free tier?
Both Auth0 and Supabase offer a free tier.
Which is best for startups and indie hackers?
Startups usually optimize for the lowest friction to ship and the cheapest possible free tier. The one with the most generous free tier here is Supabase. For production workloads, revisit the trade-offs in the feature table above.